Verna E. (Leiby) Dietrich

We celebrate the life story of Verna Emma (Leiby) Dietrich, 93, of Albany Township, PA, who passed peacefully on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

Born March 13, 1931, on her maternal grandparents’ farm in Perry Township, PA, she was the eldest daughter of George C. and Florence E. (Epting) Leiby.  Verna grew up on her family’s farms in Perry and neighboring Windsor Township, where a hard work ethic was instilled at a young age.  She fondly spent a great deal of time with her paternal grandmother, Amelia (Schappell) Leiby.

She attended one-room schoolhouses and Perry Township High School until tenth grade.  Verna left school to help on the family’s farms and took a job as a forelady at Burkey Underwear Factory, Hamburg, PA.  The money she saved helped to buy the first modern hay baler for the new life on which she was about to embark.

She married Willard Forrest Dietrich (May 12, 1928-August 29, 2001) on August 2, 1952, and together, they moved in with Willard’s parents, Howard W. and Edna M. (Danner) Dietrich, on the family dairy farm in Albany Township. 

After Howard’s death in 1956, Willard and Verna purchased the farm and continued operations while expanding the dairy herd and raising their three sons.  In addition, Verna and her family began a small huckster route in Hamburg, PA, offering farm-fresh goods door to door.  They sold a variety of goods, from eggs to feedbags, vegetables to butchering concoctions produced in the farm’s washhouse, and just about anything else someone needed that they could provide.  The following year, the family began tending a small table offering similar goods at Renninger’s Farmers Market, Kutztown, PA, and continues to do so today.

In 1975, she and her family combined their skills and opened Dietrich’s Meats & Country Store, Krumsville, PA, a newly-built, USDA-inspected butcher shop and country store dedicated to the traditional Pennsylvania German food ways.  A natural-born saleslady, Verna’s quick wit and authenticity captured the attention of her customers and empowered her to build a local following, in addition to one of out-of-towners from up and down the East Coast.  Many of these folks became dear friends and could not travel the Interstate 78 corridor without stopping; “My car automatically turned into your parking lot.”  Not one to sit idle, she worked daily into her high eighties and continued to be present to greet customers until her final day.

She was proud of her Pennsylvania German heritage and spoke the dialect with a distinctive accent.  She loved taking part in the Kutztown Folk Festival since 1984 and was honored for her dedication in 2023.  Her lifelong contribution and commitment to the Pennsylvania German culture are immeasurable.  Although modest, Verna’s passion, business intuition, homespun charm and natural ability to engage led her to become a regional celebrity.  Verna and her foods have been featured in countless articles, media, and national publications, including her iconic WEEU Radio spots, WFMZ-TV features, Reading Eagle, The Morning Call, Philadelphia Inquirer, Vogue, O Magazine, Saveur, Town and Country, Bon Appètit, Cooks Illustrated, Pennsylvania Dutch Country Cooking, The Pleasures of Slow Food, and The Passing Scene Series.

Verna was baptized and confirmed at Zions Church, Windsor Castle.  After her marriage, she joined Willard’s family church, Friedens Lutheran Church, Stony Run, PA.

She was a member of the Kempton Community Center, Kempton Fire Company, Kempton Rod and Gun Club, Virginville Fire Company, and Virginville Grange.  Willard, Verna and their three sons were honored as the 1973 Berks County Outstanding Farm Family by Reading Fair.

To carry on her legacy, she leaves behind three sons: Glenn W., Lynn A. (Deborah S. Schwartz), Marlin G. (Dawn M. Miller), all of Albany Township; eight grandchildren: Katie L. Gerber, Emily B. Kutz, Erin L. Noll, Andrew M. Dietrich, Anson P. Dietrich, Dean A. Dietrich, Carin L. Geisinger, Nathan A. Dietrich; eight great-grandchildren: Owen P. Kutz, Madison K. Noll, Amelia S. Dietrich, Rhett A. Geisinger, Easton J. Noll, Willard F. Dietrich, Rhys N. Geisinger, Esdon K. Dietrich; one sister, Jean I. Reber-Hale of Windsor Township; nieces; nephews; cousins; friends; employees; and customers.

A public ‘come and go’ gathering of fellowship will take place on Sunday, August 25, 2024, from 4 to 8pm in Goodman Hall at Kempton Community Center, 83 Community Center Drive, Kempton, PA 19529.  A graveside service for family and friends will take place on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 6pm at Friedens Cemetery, Red Road (Stony Run), Kempton, PA 19529.  Reverend Donald C. Simmons will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Kempton Rod and Gun Club, PO Box 72, Kempton, PA 19529, or Friedens Cemetery, c/o Steven D. Meck, 30 Donat Road, Lenhartsville, PA 19534.

If choosing to send flowers, please place all orders at least 24 hours prior to the start of the public "come and go" gathering at the Kempton Community Center.

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